authorized biographer. she was speaking on a cellphone. we hope she'll bring a connection back with us. mr. mandela's death comes at a period of deep unease, writes the new york tiles. the past year and a half, the country faces the most serious unrest provokeed by a wave of angry miner, a deadly response on part of police, messy leadership struggle and deepening fishers between south africa's ruler masters. members of the party have said mr. mandela's near saintly legacy from years of struggle has been eroded by a scramble of self enrich. . nelson mandela died with his family around him at a hospital. it was brought to us by the

south african president. he was born in transic south africa. he moved to end the regime. the impact of his efforts reconciled generosity and to find the common ground between humanity's higher values and his own power. john carlin once described him and said he'll ultimately reach beyond south africa's borders. this coming to us from black borders. prior to doing so, mandela earned a bachelor's degree during which time he was elected onto the student's representative council and suspended from college for joining a protest boycott. he was eququalified in laura to make him ready for the struggle of his people he struggled to end during wars of resistance in

their land. that degree gave him rights to practice law. he and oliver established the first black law firm. december 5, 1955 he would be on the other side of the law following a country wide sweep by police that would put him and 155 activists on trial for treason while which dragged on to the 28 accused were acquitted march 29, 1961. the headline from fox news desk this afternoon. just before midnight, about 20 minutes ago the south african president announced his long struggle in the hospital since june and before has come to an end. the iconic civil rights leader and former president of south africa, nelson mandela, is dead today at 95. fox news new york continuing

coverage on fox news channel, satellite and cable, more coverage later on your late local news. we continue our coverage on fox news channel across the country and around the world. the death of nelson mandela is not unexpected. we are looking at live pick ktu outside the hospital and near his home. south africa has a week long remembrance planned for him planned well in advance and will be announced by the government shortly is my understanding. we're anticipating we'll hear further from the president at some point. chris matthews is scheduled to interview him today. i believe that was scheduled to be live as part of a college tour. we'll have access to that. we're waiting for word from the white house. nelson mandela a friend to folks around the world. as we wait for further news, i can tell you the associate press puts it, he became one of the

world's most beloved statesmen from the 20th century when he emerged # from 27 years in prison to negotiate the end to white majority rule in south africa. the south african made announcement saying, we've lost our greatest son. leaving the world with memories of a man of astonishing grace and good humor. rock concerts celebrated his birthday. hollywood stars gloer fied him on screen. his gray hair and raspy voice made him instantly recognizable across the globe. the first black president of south africa, boxer, paved the way to reconciliation with well chosen gestures of forgiveness. he lunched with the prosecutor that sent him to jail, sang the

african anthem at his own inauguration and traveled hundreds of miles to have tea with the the widow of the prime minister at the time he was in prison. his most memorable gesture when he came on the field in south africa colors to congratulate the south african team and brought the overwhelmingly white crowd of 63,000 to their feet chanting "nelson, nelson, nelson." he marched into the whitism. the temple of south african rugby and made followers feel they belonged in the new south of africa. he did not escape criticism as an individual and politician. much was muted as the status of decency and principle. as president, he failed to craft

the lasting formula for overcoming south africa's biggest problems including one of the world's widest gaps between rich and poor. in his writing, he pondered heavy cost to his family of his decision to devote himself to the struggle. nelson mandela was convicted of treason, sentenced to life in prison for leading a campaign of sabotage against the government. he was sent to the prison. he was forbidden to quote him or publish his photo. he was able to smuggle out guidance to the crusade. as time went on, the long lovely wasted years as he turned them, you by the time he turned 70 he was the world's most famous political prisoner. he turned down conditional offers of freedom from jailers

and found a way to benefit from confinement. he said people tend to measure themselves by external accomplishments but jail allows a personal to focus on internal ones such as honesty, sin scers, humility, general rositgenerosi. at the museum in jo happensburg he said, quote, you learn to look into yourself. thousands died were tortured in the struggle. when mandela emerged from prison years later, the image became an international image of freedom. south african white rule pers portrayed him as the spearhead of the majority. and they insisted bloodshed to other countries as they shook

off colonial rule. south africa elected three president, always peacefully setting an example on a continent where democracy is new and fragile. the congress struggled to deliver on promises. corruption scandals and other missteps have undercut some of the promises of the earlier years quoting here, we have confounded the profits of doom and achieved a bloodless revolution. we have restored the dignity of every south african. that from mandela after he stepped down as president at the age of 80. tonight in south africa about 30 minutes ago we learned nelson mandela is dead. juan williams was the first to interview him when he got out of

jail. he has written much about him. he said we learned from his daughter this morning that he was on his death bed and yet now it still leaves the incredible sense of loss for this world. >> no doubt. you know he stands as an iconic figure. he is the face of south africa, the new south africa, first president of a democratic multiracial south aftricafrica. he brought them back to the community. think back to sanctions, efforts by the world community to get mandela released from prison. his efforts seems to me, his example and his ability to reach out to people, just touches so many people. it helped to literally bring

south africa in to the modern era. >> juan i mentioned you were among the first to interview mandela after his release from prison. tell me about that encounter. >> this is pretty incredible. i was there as a correspondent for the washington post. the occasion of his release from prison. you know it turned out he had read a book i had written about the american civil rights era. while most journalists were turned away, turned out he wanted to meet me. i was invited into his home to help him write notes to world leaders who were all congratulating him upon his release from prison. i wrote notes and thank you notes like hope to see you soon, great to be out. silly things like that. i got to sit with him as he was seeing grandchildren, meeting old friends, having home cooked

foods. incredible experience. at one point he was asking me about america. i said mr. mandela everyone is so fascinated by you and the fact you have not let bitterness claim your heart that you believe in all of south africa, black, white, colored, indian, everybody. he was saying you know, this was not what he hoped for as a child. when he initially just wanted to be a poet, loved boxing, fascinated by mike tyson back in the days when he was getting out of prison, mohammed ali. the fact he became a lawyer was just amazing to him. he never expected he would become the face of the freedom fight in south africa. mandela once said difficulty breaks some men but molds

others. one armed with the hope he'll rise even in the end. it always astounded me as an observer how this man that endure s du much could remain a symbol of stability, calm, humility and warmth. it was a position we witness in so few people in our lives. >> without a doubt. i think that's exactly why at this moment you're talking about a worldwide fig yuurefigure. i remember when the united nations had the 50th anniversary, seeing mandela there among the world leaders. you could see the others interacting with him in a special way, different from anyone else. there was an understanding he somehow transended politics, he had as a human being been able to touch the hearts of everybody no matter what your political

stripe. child or adult in terms of humanity. he said i understand you and appreciate you. mr. mandela, thank you for standing up for what is right in this world. >> juan williams has been good enough to join us live from an event he's attending. i know you have to get back in there. thank you for being here. >> my pleasure. >> imagine having the opportunity he did. there are tweets coming in from literally around the world. speaker boehner issued one. nelson mandela's long walk to freedom slowed enduring faith in god and respect fordignity. that's from john boehner. david cameron, british prime minister speaking here. a great light has gone out in the world. mandela was a hero of our time. i've asked for the flag at ten to be flown at half mast he says. chelsea clinton with a tweet. my thoughts and prayers are with the mandela family.

we are all the richer for the extraordinary life. the president is set to speak in a few minutes from the white house. ed henry is there live. >> reporter: good to see you. the bottom line, we expect the president to come to the white house press briefing room undoubt undoubtedly reflect mandela in 1980 when the president attended a rally involving anti. that was so synonymous with mandela. they had a meeting in 2005 as a young senator for barack obama. the president spoke back fondly on that meeting and said he took so much from mandela. the men have the bond of being

the first black presidents of each of their countries. in june i was with the president in africa, he had a long trip. at that time mandela was ill. the speculation was if he would pass during president barack obama 's trip or if obama would meet with him. he decided out of respect for mandela that he would meet with some of his relatives there in south africa rather than meeting directly with mandela ailing back in the early part of the summer. bottom line, president barack obama took his own family to robin island where nelson mandela was in prison for 26 years. there was images of the president bringing his wife and two young daughters to talk to them about the legacy and refler reflect on hit. >> we got a message from george bush. it says barbara and i have had

the privilege to know. as president i watched in wonder as mandela had the remarkable capacity to forgive jailers following 26 years of wrongful imprisonment setting redemths and grace for us all. he was a man of tremendous courage who changed the course of history in his country. barbara and i, he write, had great respect for president mandela and send condolences for his family and country men. this from the far corners of the world like we might receive for few others on this planet. >> when you mention that about former president bush 41 saying nelson mandela was kind even to jailers that kept him in prison 27 years. bush said before he thought it was incredible one of the jailers became an adviser, security official to mandela

when he later became president. mandela thought it would be a great act of reconciliation that he had forgiven the team that jailed him. this is not about party. mandela is someone that crosses all of those lines. the state funeral the president talked about, you can expect president barack obama there, undoubtedly former president clinton, maybe one or former president bushs. there's going to be people from all around the world, all political stripes that the funeral. >> no doubt about it. we know of the series of events which are to come over the next week. they're elaborate. >> and the expectation is that the state funeral is not something that's a couple of hours as you say. it's going to last for days. one thing we'll be trying to

figure out obviously after some time period, it's not the most important question to ask, but when does president barack obama go, when do other world leaders go? it's been described to us previously there will be a long mourning period and state funeral that extends over a long period where world leaders can come in and pay respects over time. this is something we're going to be seeing and hearing about his legacy several days to come. >> ed henry at the white house. the president is just a couple of minutes away if they're on schedule. the president will speak from the white house. scheduled to be from that briefing podium in 90 seconds. we normally get a two minute warning. they may be a couple of minutes behind. interesting a number of quotes from mandela. the list goes on and on. they're all inspirational. one in front of me. resentment is like drinking poisen and hoping it will kill your enemies. a very short, to the point,

series of words that are good for all of us to live by. resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies. if anyone on earth ever had room for resentment it was nelson mandela. think of the life he led 26-27 years only to emerge and have tea with and give love to and say you're good to go with me to those that locked him up and changed his life. in doing so he changed the course of human events and the history of this world almost single handily. a couple of guests with us. this is the normal hour you watch the five on fox news channel. bob beckel is live with us, dana perino. you spent years raising money with desmond tutu correct? >> tutu was a key fig your wiur

mandela. they came out and said -- by the way the resentment thing, in all aa meetings i go to, that's up on the wall about resentment. resentments will kill you. >> resent management is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemy. >> tutu came here twice to raise money. he himself is a remarkable human being. he and mandela's daughter came who is a remarkable american her own right. tutu was amazed mandela said to him after he got out of prison, we're not going to go on a witch hunt here, not going to prosecute people on the other side unless there's a clear crime to convict them for. we're going to have peace and reconciliation. i want you to lead the effort on this. they did. remarkably he ran against the clerk for president. then after they're over, they

were both a warded the nobel peace price. he was angry at blacks who said what do you mean peace and reconciliation. we've been beat up, jailed. tutu said i've been jailed a long time myself but we ought to do it myself. >> you were in the bush 43, dana. 41 had a short statement. they were very close. >> they were amongst the time to bring freedom to people. the word mandela em bodies peace, freedom and also the belief in forgiveness as the power to heal not just personal relationships one on one but the entire nation. south africa rose to the occasion in a way a lot of people thought they would not be able to do that. you'll see the entire world mourn the passing of somebody

who we all would like to be more like nelson mandela in our lives. >> certainly could be a guiding light even in death for so many of us. i have the run down of what is to happen. nelson mandela, long planned by the south african government. he won't be buried for ten days. a huge memorial service will be held at the soccer stadium. we talked about mandela returning to the rugby pitch and these people who once had control and no longer do are chanting his name. >> almost all white. >> amazinamazing. >> according to the document released, the main funeral will take place at 94,000 seat stadium that hosted the 2010 world cup final, his last public engagement. >> one of the last times he was seen publicly. because of his illness that has kept him behind the scene, even

president barack obama didn't have a chance to see him on the recent trip because he was so ill. a long road to this point tonight. >> thank you very much. we're going to pause for a moment. the president is about to speak at the white house. i want to give an opportunity for broadcast stations, fox station across the station to join us now. good afternoon from new york. i'm shepherd smith at the news deck. we have learned the president is to speak in a couple of moments on the passing of nelson mandela. we reported ten minutes ago it was announced by the south african president, a quarter to 5 eastern standard time this afternoon, nelson mandela died in his hospital room with his family with him. he went in the hospital in june. it was widely thought at the

time he was near death then. he spent 86 days in the hospital. his last public appearance was at a soccer stadium in the year 2010. we're led to believe though not confirmed, led to believe his funeral will take place there ten days from now. president barack obama is to speak from the white house on his passing, something they've been prepared quite some time. mandela's daughter was with him this morning. before 8:00 a.m. she sent out word her father was on his death bed. she made the extraordinary statement that even on this day in this dark hour she was able to learn more from him. she said last year every moment with him was a blessing from god and that she cannot even imagine anyone being more fortunate than she to have these last years with him. after he got out of prison after 26 year, who would think a man

could hang on this long, except mandela, this man of resilience who recognized evil around him, who was inprisoned who's people were told you cannot utter a quote of him, may not have a picture of him. he was able to spread the word, outside the prison where he was, be a leader from those that realized he had the better way, to emerge as one who instead of trying for vengeance spoke of and lived for you south africa. now the president of the united states. >> at his trial in 1964, nelson mandela closed the statement from the dock saying, i have fought against white domination and i have fought against black dominati domination. i have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in

which all persons live together in harmony and equal opportunities. it's an ideal i hope to live for and to achieve. if need be it is an ideal for which i am prepared to die. nelson mandela lived for that ideal and made it real. he achieved more than could be expected of my man. today he's gone home. we've lost one of the most influential, courageous, profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth. he no longer belongs to us. he belongs to the ages. to his fierce dignity and unbending will to sacrifice his own freedom for the freedom of others, he transformed south africa and moved all of us.

his journey from a prisoner to president embodied the promise that human beings and countries can change for the better. his commitment to transfer power and reconcile with those that jailed him set an example that all humanity should aspire to whether in the lives of nations or our own personal ones. the fact he did it all with grace, good humor, an ability to acknowledge his own imperfect n imperfections makes the man that much more remarkable. he once said, i'm not a saint unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying. i am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from nelson mandela's life. my very first political action, first thing i ever did that involved an issue or policy or

politics was a protest against parti. i would studies his words and writings. the day he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when guided by hopes and not by their fears. like so many around the globe, i cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that nelson mandela set. so as long as i live i'll do what i can to learn from him. to his family, michelle and i extend deepest sympathy and gratitude for sharing this man with us. his work meant long days away from those that loved him most. i hope the time spent with him the last few weeks brought peace and comfort to his family. to the people of south africa,

we draw strength from the example of renewal and reconciliation and resilience that you made real. a free south africa at peace with itself. that's an example to the world. that's the legacy to the nation he loved. we will not likely see the likes of nelson mandela again. it falls to us as best we can to bore the example he set to make decisions guide not by hate but by love. never discount the difference one person can make. strive for a future worthy of his sacrifice. for now let us pause and give thanks for the fact that nelson mandela lived. a man who took history in his hands and bent the ark of the

moral universe towards justice. may god bless his memory and keep him in peace. >> clearly emotional president barack obama speaking live from the white house briefing room on the passing of nelson mandela at the age of 96. i'm shepherd smith in new york. our coverage continues on the fox news channel on satellite and cable. your continued coverage tonight from this fox station. from all of us here, good afternoon. our coverage continues now on fox news channel. dana perino and bob beckel are with us on the fox news deck for their normal hour of contribution to our programming. i was moved when the president talked about the bending of the curve. >> the ark of justice and it wasn't just for south africa but any freedom fighter around the world. i had the opportunity to serve on the broadcasting board of

governors, that voice of america and all other nations, england, germany, netherlands all par s participat participated. they could listen to him on the radio and be inspired by the grace, redemption and real grit actually. imagine it's not just he was a wonderful, beautiful person. he had the ability to take what his jailers had done and turn it into something positive. >> he said i hate race, discrimination most intensely and all manifestations. i have fought it all during my life. i fight it now and i will do so until the end of my days. and he did. ed henry at the white house. the funeral some ten days to 12 days depending on when they're able to make it all you happen logistically. that will be a difficult process over there.

i'm confident our biggest leaders in this nation will be there including the president. >> no doubt about it president barack obama will be there as they work out the details as well as former presidents, secretary of states, hillary clinton, many others. that's because there's such respect across the nation and across the world. you heard from the president briefly telling you inside the room being a few feet from him. you could see on the television screen. up close the raw emotion he felt. he talked about the legacy of mandela many times on the trip back in june throughout africa and south africa that president barack obama was on. you could see him halting and pausing as he talked about the legacy. i think it's important to note that he spoke a lot about what you've been discussing and highlighting what is important, nelson mandela's push for

reconciliation for those that imprisoned him. president barack obama says one thing he talks about ask how man dell laugh was stubborn about pushing forward not just dealing through the 27 years of imprison ment. after he got out, to continue to fight for the cause of freedom. he continued to push forward. that's a legacy for many people. >> it is. one of his quotes to that end. he said, do not judge me by my successes. judge me by how many times i fell down and got back up again. >> you heard the president talk about nelson mandela saying also that he wasn't a saint. he considered himself rather a sinner trying to become a saint, trying to continue to push forward the cause of justice and freedom. trying to stress. that was one of the reasons he was so beloved around the world is that he didn't hold himself up as someone who was perfect.

>> yeah. our viewers are seeing on the far right-hand side of the wall, that's a live picture of the nelson mandela statue. if you have not visit had the location, you should the next time in washington. it is quite moving. it's my understanding there are crowds gathering there. that's outside the embassy in washington. crowds republican gathering outside his home and in johannesburg. our fox producer is in johannesburg, paul i apologize. he's outside mandela's home. paul was there, a crowd gathered at the time. >> reporter: there was indeed. the the crowd started to gather about an hour or two before. people started arriving with

flowers. some had family members working inside the house and they had heard president mandela had his last moments fighting for his life. there was a deep quiet. news crews busily with satellite issues and cameras. there was a muted state of shock outside the house. i think everybody knew this was the end. >> paul, help us get a big picture, not detail by detail, but a big picture idea of what the next ten days will be like. >> from here he goes to a morgue. they'll dress his body and he will then go and lie in state at the union building. the first day is vip only, government dignitaries can come view mr. mandela.

the next two days will be busy indeed. they'll be for the public. at some point in the next week, we are promised there will be a massive, massive memorial service for him at the stadium where the world cup final took place. that's important because that was one of the last times that nelson mandela appeared in public. you might recall at the world cup final. on that very ground they will hold a massive memorial service. all public flags will fly at half mast in south africa and other countries around the world from tomorrow. the talk is -- and these things are changing. the plan is that at some point during the next week, a military aircraft accompanied by members of his family, will be flown to his home about a thousand

kilometer, 600 miles south of here close to the coast in the little village in the area where he was born. there will be a massive funeral that will happen not tomorrow but next friday or saturday. that is the feeling at the moment. it's going to be a large ceremony. we understand 2,000 to 3,000 people especially assembled. the temporary dome will be put up. most world leader and preident obama are expected at funeral. >> our own paul tilsley there live. as we see more of the wall, that is the crowd on the left side of the monster wall outside mandela's -- outside the hospital i believe in south africa.

i believe it was widely believed the next few days after the passing of mandela would be pretty well scripted. they had a good idea what mandela hoped would happen and what he wanted for the days after his passing. but the logistics of all of that proved to be difficult. south africa is in a bit of turmoil as many of you though preparing for the kinds of visitors who will no doubt be in south africa in the coming days. the plans are laid. think of world leaders coming together in one place and the opportunities afforded an evil doer. there's a lot of work ahead. whether he'll be laid to rest in the next 10 to 12 days remains to be seen. he touched so many lives. i dare say 96 years for some people. one lucky enough to cover his

release from prison, 1990, jennifer, that was your first story as a professional working journalist. >> that's right shepherd. i was in cape town that day, february 11, 1990, my first report as a journalist. i remember him coming out of the prison at the time. i had taken a year off of college and was down in south africa covering the end. the clerk was elected and surprised everyone in the fall and started making these changes that when i arrived in south africa par tide was still law of the land. if you went in a post office, there were segregated bathrooms. i remember they tested the waters in october and released some of mandela's prisoners from the trial of 1964. they released walter and several others from prison. they had the first legal anc

rally in national rally at the soccer stadium you've been talking about the last place mandela appeared during the world cup in 2010. that soccer city was new at the time when i was down in 1989. in that october, that was the first time the anc was allowed to gather in the legal fashion. it was considered a terrorist group at the time. i remember how the crowd hushed for the first time. they raised their hands in the air and sang the national anthem. it means god bless africa, had been illegal up until that point in october 1989. at that point you knew things were changing rapidly and the clerk had started something he wasn't going to be able to stop. a par tide was ending. nelson man dell laugh was to be

released from prison. he was held on robin island five miles off the coast and like alcatraz like many years. he talked where he wrote his long walk to freedom, auto biography. they spent grueling hours in the sun breaking rocks on the island looking in the distance at the mountain in cape town and the beautiful cape town in the distance. mandela became close to his prison guards. i remember when we were down there in 1990 in february that they had to release a picture of what he looked like. it had been illegal for any newspaper to publish a picture of mandela. in february of 1990, on the eve of his release, they published a picture of how he aged and what he would look like. he asked the clerk and prison guards to hold off on his release by a week to allow the nation time to digest the information and to prepare for it. he always had a sense of his place in history.

he always was opting for actions that would lead to a peaceful transition. when we were there covering the end of a par tide, it was not clear whether south africa would end in a civil war with the whites feeling their power had been taken from them. mandela did so much to bring peace to the country and a peaceful transition. i think that's what his legacy is. that sense of forgiveness and reconciliation is what he'll be remembered for. >> i'm confident he will. jennifer griffin there on the day in 1990. so good to see you again. thank you. as a young journalist in fort myers florida at the time who spent time chasing ambulances and watching buildings burn down, it was a great thing to look up at the screen and sigh this great man who we had heard stories of in my lifetime. he was in prison almost all of it. he was a walking, talking symbol

and example of what love, respect and reconciliation was all about. a very powerful thing for this young journalist. jonathan hunt was at the time working in great britain. you have covered his life for much of your career. >> extraordinary man. to pick up on the themes of everybody including president barack obama himself of the forgiveness and reconciliation. i think there are two particular acts which stand out in my mind. first was in 1994, after he was inago ra inago rated first thing he did was have tea with a woman betsy, widow of the architect of the par tide, the most bitter enemy of the black population of south africa. nelson mandela sat and had tea

with that man's widow. it was an extraordinary act. in 1995 moving forward. we talk about the unity coming to people from sports. rugby in south africa is not stretching it much to say it's a religion. it was always an entirely white religion, the most important sport in south africa. the 1995 world rugby cup a warded to south africa for the ending of a par tide. it was still almost entirely whites in the sport. nelson mandela in the absolutely unthinkable act just a i few years before put on the jersey of the spring box what the rugby team is known as. they made it to the rugby world cup finals. they had no right to beat the strongest team in the world that they were playing that day, new

zealand. nelson mandela stood in the stand. the atmosphere in the stands that day was the most extraordinary atmosphere. those that were there say that they have experienced. that team won the rugby world cup. that in a sense although sport ship, that is the moment south africa truly came together as a nation black and white. >> wow jonathan. i don't know about you but listening to you go through all of those things which at the time -- today looking back on them it's one thing. at the time we were living them that this man could speak on that field before those people and receive that sort of reaction, explain to us how very quickly things changed after a period of no change forever. suddenly everything that anyone knew was up ended. the world was becoming a better place. it was largely because of and as a result of his actions. >> absolutely.

>> it's very hard. as you look back over the second half of the 20th century, maybe you could talk about gandy in india in the first half of the 20th century pcht in the second half of the 20th century, very difficult indeed to think of another figure who affected his country and the world in an entirely positive fashion. mandela was i think one of the most extraordinary people we'll ever have witnessed in our lifetime. i think every single person in south africa would say there's no other single person who could do what he did. at the same time, as bob beckel was saying earlier, credit has to be given to south africa's last white president that moved the country very slowly and reluctantly forward. the only person who could make the step, bring about the

reconciliation precisely because it had been held by the white regime in south africa 27 years was nelson mandela. see him along side f.w. just extraordinary man. >> you're on point. thank you so much for your bit of look into history. bob beckel from the five and dana perino is here with us from the five. the you were saying while jonathan was speaking, almost the same thing. >> well you know the more -- we have been rushing to get this story out. you do a remarkable job. the more i listen to you, the heavier the story gets, this man was such a remarkable human being. i remember in the carter white house, we tried to get sanctions put on. countries around the world were trying to put sanctions on south

africa. the united states was late getting to that. it was a major battle in the house between the black caucus and others. it was a combination of southern democrats and business oriented republicans that said no, we're not going to do that. the diamond trade was a very big deal. so there were a -- >> it was bloodier -- >> absolutely. >> what i noticed in looking at the pictures in the studio, nowhere do you see mandela scowling. in almost every photograph he's got the big smile. it's amazing. >> i wonder if we could take a trip to our ribbon at the top. our associates here populate with news breaks. they're able to populate this ribbon with the news of the day. in this case take us along a ride in history. from the tweets and photographs,

your observation is one worth noting and repeating. you never saw him look unhappy. >> he was never angry. >> from the moment he got out of prison. he never spoke with anger. he spoke with a gentle voice and beaming smile. obviously he was human and had faults and a sinner. probably had days it probably took a lot to do that smile. what an example to set for the rest of the world. >> it strikes me now as we speak here, i as a young journalist in 1990 remember him getting out of prison. your memories and jonathan's memory, there's a group of people on this earth now, many of them working with me very well and professionally on this news deck who weren't born there. there's an entire generations of americans who over the next ten day, we as journalist, writers, columnists across the land have

the opportunity to educate them about one of the greatest men ever to walk the earth. it's an enormous opportunity there for all of us who have have the platforms. my hope is that this is treated for what it is. a great man who did great things, inspired masses and remained as calm and gentle as anyone who ever lived. it's our role to let the generation know about this man. >> jennifer spoke about the auto biography which is something i did on the college speech and debate team. inspiring. also the new movie is coming out about nelson man dell -- mandela's life. >> the martin luther king quotes

from the "i have a dream," and also to hear quotes from mandela, some of the words are so appropriate from today. we look at the massive battle in washington and politics. maybe the world will take a listen to somebody who's been through a lot more struggles that we have and listen to his words. >> makes arguments sound petty. >> yes, they do. >> he said i once learned courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. the brave man is not the one who does not feel afraid. he who conquer had the fear. so simple and so profound. what an astounding order. we speak around here of economy of words while conveying every utter ens in the way using as few words as possible. i've never seen anybody better at it. >> i had the opportunity after

we left the white house to spend time in south africa, travel around the country and do volunteer work as well. the hiv aids in the country amongst other things in the country that's poor and struggling was helped by mandela. economic freedom was important so that you can then have property rights like anybody else. they've got a long way to go in the country. they've been benefitted economically. he was thinking ahead about how to help his people. >> last saturday two of my friends were married. this friday they're taking their honeymoon to south africa. my good friends julie and drew are about to be part of one of the great events of our lifetime. with us now, william cohen

former secretary of defense. he met with mandela in his loam in the year 2000. your thoughts. >> great to be with you. it's a sad day but one of great warmth as well as the words have spread around the globe. you can see people's hearts lighting up and thinking about the life of nelson mandela. my wife and i both had multiple occasions to meet with him, in south africa and here in washington. senator dole invited us to share an afternoon with him at richard holbrooks apartment and in new york. all i can say is there is a man who we projected integrity, courage, wisdom, and strength. we haven't seen anybody like him in my lifetime and unlikely in

the foreseeable future. other leaders will come forth. i doubt we'll see one like him soon. >> while we have you on the line, former president clinton released a tweet and statement. it's a picture of clinton and mandela. with that contagious and enormous smile with his right hand in the two hands of president clinton. clinton says i'll never forget my friend. the rest of the statement he says the world has lost one of the most important leaders in one of the finest human beings. hilla hillary, chelsea and i have lost a true friend. for peace and recommend sill yooigs we'll remember him as a man of uncommon grace and compassion who abandoned bitterness not just a political strategy but a way of life. president clinton goes on to say our thoughts and prayers go out

to his family and the people of south africa. all of us are living in a better place because of the life he lived. he proved there's forgiving and a big heart is better than a closed mind and life's real victories must be shared. president clinton today on the passing of nelson mandela. we have been preparing for this since june. those of us who are in the business of relaying information of this magnitude have to spend some degree of time thinking about these sorts of things. you figure when it happens i'm ready for it and not going to be overly moved. i am. i'm astounded. >> isn't that the great thing about life and human emotion. you can think you have all the facts at your fingertips. when you see the smile and think about what he went through, the emotion that can be evoked i think is not just a great tribute to him but a wonderful

reminder of what it's like to be human. >> secretary cohen. nelson mandela is one that did not want to be celebrated. mandela wanted all of us to as he has forgive not forget, forgive and move forward. >> well he was a man of great humility with all other attributes we have been commemorating. humility is among them. i might say janet and i spent time in his jail cell on robin island. i felt myself getting angry over the fact he had to spend any time there. forgiveness certainly was deep in his heart and marked his character for all of us to carry forward. i hope as your dialogue has been going back and forth that other people in public life, in private life, will look to him and say this is a man who showed the way forward.

we are in deep difficulty right now because of the political paralysis . just the celebration of his lives and lessons will help lift the hearts of elected officials as a better way forward. >> secretary, thank you so much for saying that. i wholeheartedly agree. secretary william cohen former secretary under clinton. we prepare now for a special report. jonathan hunt. >> it's a great day of sadness. as secretary cohen said it's a day and will be in the days to come to celebrate one of the host extraordinary lives of 20th and early 21st centuries. to quote quickly from the editor of the south african weekly. wrote just a couple of years

ago. while south africaens feel is part of the structure of our national being. we worry we may not be ourselves without him. south africa is a different nation without his beating heart. >> jonathan hunt, thank you so much. >> i think greg gutfeld would man the words teachable moment. i think that's what this is to celebrate a great man. >> he'll probably do as much in death over the next two weeks that he did in life. the world is going to learn about a great man. generations will learn about a great man. maybe just maybe some leaders here today will stop and think about what nelson mandela said and particularly when he

embraced the clerk. the clerk's courage in moving it forward by the way. anybody on opposing political parties ought to think about that long and hard about what this man brought. >> there's a race to define and own the narrative, political narrative that is that of this nation. it has changed hands repeatedly over the past few months. the quest for ownership of the narrative is now going to take a short break. the world and the nation are better for it. >> yes. >> leave your narrative at the doorstep and let's celebrate a great man of the world. a couple of quotes before we go. lead from the back and let others believe they are out front. nelson mandela said e education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world. he say a fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long

way in making the world a better place we so passionately dreamed of. i'm shepherd smith in new york. nelson mandela was 96 years old and will live forever in the world. >> our beloved nelson mandela, the founding president of our democratic nation has departed. he passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 2050 on the 5th of december, 2013. he is now